The Lemon IndexPlanes · Single-engine piston
Grumman AA-1 / AA-5.
Every U.S. accident NTSB investigated, 2008 to 2025.
Photos: Ian Kirk from Broadstone, Dorset, UK (Wikimedia Commons)
129accidents
22%were fatal
48deaths
11%aircraft destroyed
What happened. NTSB's defining event, share of accidents.
Loss of control in flight13%
Loss of engine power (partial)10%
Loss of control on ground8%
Loss of engine power (total)5%
Fuel exhaustion5%
Runway excursion5%
Pilot or plane? How often NTSB listed an aircraft problem among the causes.
16%the plane was part of the cause
engine, systems, structure or propeller
engine, systems, structure or propeller
84%people or weather only
pilot decisions, control, fuel planning
pilot decisions, control, fuel planning
Out of 91 accidents where NTSB recorded a cause. When the plane was a cause, it was most often the engine (reciprocating).
When. Phase of flight.
Initial climb20%
Enroute19%
Landing17%
Takeoff14%
Approach13%
Accidents per year.
200812
200911
201010
20116
20129
20135
20146
201510
20169
20176
20184
20195
20209
20214
20228
20234
20244
20257
More planes flying means more accidents, so counts aren't a safety score by themselves. Compare the shares above.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, U.S. accidents 2008–2025. ntsb.gov · Every plane
Updated